Introductory description

ES2D8-15 Technical Operations Management

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Operations Management:
Design of the operation – design of the product & service, supply network, layout & flow and jobs & work organisation.
Transition to operation – operation readiness and monitoring
Information management systems
Organisational structure with relevant leadership and management styles
Planning & control of the operation - capacity management; change management
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Agile against Lean systems (with introduction of major lean systems elements and tools
Importance of continuous improvement and transition towards learning organisations.

Quality Management:
Management for Quality: philosophy, participation and people issues, structures and organisation.
Design for Quality: customer requirements definition and validation, reliability/verification issues.
Process Management: understanding variability, quality tools and techniques (fishbone, Pareto, SPC, TPM), continuous improvement and waste reduction. Quality Systems: ISO 9001, ISO 14000, Business Excellence Model.

Life Cycle Management & Sustainability
Product lifecycle management (PLM): increasing complexity and regulations trends
Present product lifecycles against sustainable development frameworks
Life cycle impact assessment : cradle to grave vs cradle to gate
ISO 14040: framework for environmental management

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Discuss the importance and interdependence of major elements of design of operation management system including, but not limited to planning, organisational structures with assessment of appropriate leadership and management styles and control in order to improve operations and identify a relevant selection of tools and techniques for a variety of engineering businesses;
• Examine the need to accept commercial risk and be aware of techniques to evaluate and manage risk;
• Appraise lifecycle assessment and management principles in dynamic business environments and its relevance to sustainable development concepts with both qualitative and quantitative approaches emphasising associated risks and relevant assessment frameworks;
• Discuss the importance of quality in engineering products and services and be aware of the tools and techniques to prevent, identify, measure and control quality problems and drive continuous improvement;
• Address awareness of relevant ethical and regulatory requirements including personnel, health & safety, traceability and international standards.

Indicative reading list

Heizer, J & Render, B (2014) "Operations Management", 11th ed; Pearson Education UK
Knowles, G; (2005) "Quality Management" (Bookboon), ISBN: 978-87-7681-875-3
Knowles, G; (2005) "Six Sigma" (Bookboon), ISBN: 978-87-7681-852-4
Krajewski, L.J; Ritzman, L.P. & Malhotra, M.K. (2013) "Operations Management", 10th ed. Pearson Education UK
Slack, N; Brandon-Jones, A & Johnston, R. (2016) "Operations Management", 8th ed; Pearson Education, UK
Basu, S. (2017) Plant Hazard Analysis and Safety Instrumentation Systems [online] Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier. available from https://0-www-sciencedirect-com.pugwash.lib.warwick.ac.uk/science/book/9780128037638 [6 April 2018]
Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2012) Operations Management [online] New York, New York : Palgrave Macmillan. available from <http://encore.lib.warwick.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3155801__Sterry hill__P0,1__Orightresult__U__X4?lang=eng&suite=cobalt> [6 April 2018]
Malakooti, B. (2013) Operations and Production Systems with Multiple Objectives [online] 1st edn. Wiley. available from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/warw/detail.action?docID=1574350 [6 April 2018]
Mitchell, J.S. (2015) Operational Excellence : Journey to Creating Sustainable Value [online] Hoboken, New Jersey : Wiley,. available from <http://encore.lib.warwick.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2841819__Soperational excellence__P0,2__Orightresult__U__X6?lang=eng&suite=cobalt> [4 April 2018]

Subject specific skills

Knowledge and understanding of the need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in engineering and the use of technical literature, other information sources including appropriate codes of practice and industry standards
Knowledge and understanding of risk issues, including health & safety, environmental and commercial risk, risk assessment and risk management techniques and an ability to evaluate commercial risk

Transferable skills

Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including time management, which may be as a team member or leader
Awareness of the nature of business and enterprise in the creation of economic and social value
Ability to formulate and operate within appropriate codes of conduct, when faced with an ethical issue
Appreciation of the global dimensions of engineering, commerce and communication
Be professional in their outlook, be capable of team working, be effective communicators, and be able to exercise responsibility and sound management approaches.